River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-09-15
. A SAGACIOUS PRINCE.

We were discussing dogs and their
instinct and intelligence, when Capt.
Clark, a native of Illinois. related an
incident that will bear repeating to the
general public.
About ten years ago the captain pur-
chased some land on the south branch
of the big Wichita river, Texas, and a
few months later went out to make ar
engagements for establishing ranch He
took with him a large shepherd dog of
great natural intelligence. From Fort
Worth he journeved to within twenty
five miles of his destination by rail. At
the fort he hired horse for a week,
got his directions about the roads, and
set off in good spirits. 1t was lovely
weather and a bracing atmosphere, and
the captain was jolly enough until, after
the first five miles had been covered. he
noticed that Prince the dog. was
acting in very queer manner Three
different times the dog headed off the
horse as if to turn him back, and when
this did not avail he sat down in the
road and howled in the most dismal
manner. The captain got down to look
him over, but could find nothing wrong
The dog would look up at him and
whine and bark and run back toward
the town, and when his master refused
to follow him he again set up lament
able bowling. No such conduct had
ever been noticed in him before, and
the captain finally concluded that the
dog was ''off' on account of the change
of climate. He left the town at 2
o clock in the afternoon, calculating to
stop over night at a ranch eighteen
miles distant, and, after wasting a
quarter of an hour with the dog, he re-
mounted and rode on. Prince howled
louder than ever, and by and by fol-
lowed on, but with his tail and ears
down, as if in great trouble.
Two things happened to-prevent the
captain from reaching the ranch as he
had planned. A thunderstorm drove
him to the shelter of a grove for an
hour, and Is pursuing his journey again
he got among the cattle trails and lost
his way. The dog kept up his strange
conduct. and once or twice the captain
was on the point of shooting him, be-
lieying that he had gone mad. 1t was
nine block in the evening, with another
storm threatening, when the horseman
drew up at cabin on small creek
flowing into the Wichita. He had seen
the light from affair off and had made a
short cut to reach it. In response to
his call an eyil-looking woman about
40 years old came TO the door, and to
his request to be accommodated for the
night, she granted a ready reply in the
affirmative. While the horse was being
cared for in a brush stable the man of
the house came home, having been out
hunting. He had a face even more
vicious than the woman's. and
but for the breaking of the
storm Clark would have resumed
his journey. The supper consist
ed of hoecake and bacon, and the house
and everything in it indicated shiftless-
ness and proyerty. The woman had no
questions to ask. but the man was full
of them. The captain evaded some and
answered others untruthfully. but yet
the settler got an idea of who he was
and v hat had brought him into the
neighborhood. The last seen of the
dog was when Clark rode up 10 the
house. Prince halted five hundred feet
away and began bowling, but after
few minutes his noise ceased, and no
more was seen or heard of him.
At 10 o'clock, with the storm still
raging Capt. Clark went to bed There
were two rooms 10 the house, with
bed in each ro, m, and he had the front
room While he did not by any means
like the looks of the pair. he had no
suspicious that they intended him harm.
He was well armed, brave man. and
he did not intend TO sleep too soundly.
there was neither lock nor catch on his
door. and he kept it closed by placing
a light stand against it. He had gone
to the door and whistled for Prince
before removing his clothes, but the dog
h1d in no manner responded. Never
theless, the captain was only fairly in
bed when the dog came TO the outer
door, snufled about for minute, and
then set up a bowling. The mast
cot up TO let him in. but he ran away.
It now seemed quite certain that Prince
was mad, and the captain made up his
mind to shoot him the first thing next
morning.
Il was just getting to sleep. he eX-
planned, when the dog returned again.
| heard him sniff about the door. and
pretty soon he howled again, but very
softly this me. 1t was a sort of wall.
and il made me SILVER. 1t struck me
that there was a note of warning in it.
but | was vexel and out of patience
with Prince. and | determined to give
him no further attention. He was off
in minute or two, and after thinking
over the matter for a quarter of an
hour fell asleep. 1t was after mid
night when | was awakened. The dog
had his nose at the bottom of the door.
and was bowling loud enough TO scare
the dead. Ny first thought was to get /
up and shoot him, but as / heard a /
in the next room | hesitated /
for "A moment ! heard the man walk |
across the floor in his bare feet and open /
the back door and 90 out. No doubt /
he had gone to drive Prince away, and I
/ settled hack in bed and thanked him f
for It. The dog ran off, but though | 1
listened long and intently / did not I
hear the man return. / did hear some
thing between a groan and shout, but
he lad cried out to the dog.
The storm was over now and the
moon flooding into the room. and as !